Today I want to share the top 5 tips that helped me organize my thoughts when it came to designing my dream closet (with the space we had to work with of course....it could always be bigger!) so that I could organize my clothes in order to have the most efficiency when it comes to getting dressed and ready to go every day!

It's super important (whether you have a tiny NYC apartment or a huge walk-in) to be able to see the things that you have and love in a clear way so that pieces don't get lost in the mix, and therefore invisible and gone forever! You know it's true. If you can't see it, it basically doesn't exist.

When we moved into our home, there was no real closet in the master bedroom, just some Home Depot metal shelving that was clearly put up for men's clothes plus it was ugly and not set up for women's clothing i.e. dresses, robes, kimonos, shoes, etc. I contacted California Closets (not sponsored) because I had heard great things, and was able to map out the entire space we were working with and give my designer an exact inventory of all my clothes and accessories that needed space in the new closet. That way, there would be no surprises. Everything was accounted for. I also knew I wanted my shoes to be visible, front and center, and covered from dust, so we decided on gorgeous white wood frames with glass fronts and I chose vintage hardware for the handles. Check out more photos below and learn what my top 5 tips are for organizing your dream closet!

A shoe cabinet keeps the dust away!

1. Get rid of anything and everything you're not crazy about- If you don't love it, you won't wear it. I understand sentimental value, but realistically, if you haven't worn it for a year, you probably don't LOVE it. Of course, I don't mean classic pieces that age well or seasonal pieces, but items you look at and think "eh"... get rid of it. It's just taking up valuable real estate and ain't nobody got time for that!

2. Color Coordinate- Color coordinating your clothes allows you to know where pieces are more quickly and allows you to dress for how you feel. During the winter, I don't wear that many bright colors so it's nice that all my black and darker colors are in the same area. I go from white to pink, to red, and down the line of the rainbow from there with my black towards the back since I don't have a ton of black.

3. Hang according to sleeve length- I like to hang my tops from tank/strapless styles at the front to long sleeve toward the back of that particular color. That way I know exactly where specific pieces are that I am looking for. Looking for that pink tank? There it is!

4. Create space for hanging bottoms- I used to fold and stack my pants/shorts/skirts because there just wasn't enough space to hang my bottoms. I was so used to folding and storing bottoms in a dresser, that I didn't even think to ask to have a space to hang them. Thank goodness my closet designer suggested it because now I see exactly what I have and don't forget about that cute A.P.C skirt that I love so much! I love seeing what I have to work with laid out right in front of me!

5. Create some space for accessories (purses, luggage, belts, hats)- I always thought of these items as an afterthought, but as I have gotten older, I have a couple nice bags I need to store when not being worn, luggage that needs to be stored when I am not traveling, and belts that should be hung, not crumpled up in a drawer somewhere. We made sure to include shelving that was taller than the tallest purse and big enough for my hats, belt hooks on rolling tracks that come in and out, and space at the very top of my closet to fit my suitcases neatly. It makes me so happy to know that everything has a place! Without planning these details, my closet would look like a bomb went off with purses and hats thrown about, squeezing into blank spaces.

Do you guys have any tips that you feel are musts for your closet? Share in the comments below! And for more on this topic, visit my IGTV for a tour/ explanation of how I organized everything and why I love it!! See that on my Instagram here!